Topic for
6/20/97:		 How do you believe a congressional apology to African Americans for the enslavement of their ancestors will improve race relations between Black and White Americans?



Name: JEREMY K GRICE
Email: LITTLEJROC@HOTMAIL.COM
Response: WHAT EFFECT IF ANY WILL A APOLOGY DO FOR ANY OF US? I'M STILL GOING TO WAKE UP EVERY MORNING AND RESENT SLAVERY.AND BESIDES SLAVERY IS STILL GOING ON IN MAJOR PORTIONS OF THE WORLD .HELL GO ASK MASTERCARD WHAT MASTERCARD REALLY MEANS!


Name: Brother Akindele of MAD Writer Productions
Email: akinyemi@online.emich.edu
Response: Raahubaat usra. Who gives a damn about what these pale faces are apologizing to the Nuwaubian man and woman for. They could have done that 400 years ago. But 400 years ago they were raping our women, killing the Nubian man, diluting his seed, making us work like hell and I can go on. Some still say that we should get reparations for the accomplishments that we have done. Try getting back the land that was taken from you and reclaiming it as yours. The South is where we should be (I'll build on that later) because we are closer to our ancestors. Let pale face apologize because we are now passing him up on the road as we go home and help prepare our nation for the 21st century. Wadu.


Name: Penser
Email: Penser@Mindspring.com
Response: I don't think an apology would serve any worthwhile purpose. More important would be for Congress to address the economic dislocations that has impacted the African American community as a result of slavery.


Name:
Email: brybril@aol.com
Response: The only way to improve race relations is REPARATIONS for Africans in America. It is the only way to improve the condition of Africans. If the African community in America is not improved, then obviously race relations will not improve. Of course, I feel the question of race relations is kind of irrelevant, considering the fact that white supremacy has been effectively genocidal to Africans. And while the bill for Reparations calls for an apology as a pillar of the ultimate goal -- Black sovereignty -- it will do nothing to reverse and/or repair the holocaust that white supremacy has left. So, on the hand, Clinton satisfied a pillar of the Reparations process. On the other hand, it was a very small pillar, indeed. Just because the guilty party says sorry, does not negate the consequences that naturally follow. Only the establishment of a New Afrikan State, as envisioned by a leader more relevant to the world today than Clinton -- Brother Imari Obadele-- will help solve anything. REPARATIONS YES!


Name: Kip Carr
Email: kipley.carr@usa.net
Response: First, on behalf of my ancestors, who helped to create the economy of this nation under the threat of violence and even death, I would say that it is about time that the Federal Government finally took some responsibility for the system of apartheid that it created and perpetuated, but by the same token, I've never accepted the idea that an apology would be a panacea, and that somehow, our problems would somehow disappear. Naturally there are those who are vehemently opposed to an apology--but then again, their ancestors were never slaves....


Name: Nnamdi Nzingha
Email:
Response: I don't think an apology will improve anything. For one, I don't think it will ever come to pass, and even if congress does pass this law the general white public will not be sincerely behind it. In fact, if the oj trial, and the ATTACK on affirmative action is an indicator, it will only make race relations worse! But, I wish it is enacted because it is long overdue. Next we can begin the discussion of REPARATIONS.


Name: K. Leonard
Email: k8wra@juno.com
Response: An apology for slavery is both meaningless and unnecessary. There probably isn't anyone around now who knows the reality of slavery that existed in this country. So, it is a rather useless gesture. But we African Americans have to remember that we weren't the only slaves in human history, and it is way past time for us to get over it and put it behind us. It holds us back in many ways. It makes many of us more vulnerable to high blood pressure and other medical problems; some, in dispair from dwelling on it, fall victim to drugs and alcohol, and a great loss of time and emotional energy by being angry; time that could be better spent taking advantage of the many opportunities that slaves didn't have. A better gesture would to be greater efforts made to eliminate discrimination, both social and economic, for the African Americans of this day and age.


Name: Ryan Calloway
Email: CALLOWR@GPB.ORG
Response: I feel this question is like the Apology to the Tuskegee Victims. It is a good gesture, but what is going to come of it. I also think it is a valiant effort Pres. Clinton is putting for to try and better race relations. My only concern is that putting for effort and achieving are two totally different things. I remember watching Roots and the anger I felt and hate that I had toward whites in general at that time. I have learned that it is wrong and burns up too much energy to hate. I am still disqusted that we are treated as second-class citizens in this country after all the blood and tears that were shed to make this country what it is. Reporations? How do you monetarily pay someone for being killed, dehumanized, and raped? Actually, we really don't have to answer that question because I don't believe we will ever receive any money for the crimes that were committed. After reading some of the earlier comments I thought about some of the other races that have receive some financial reporations. The only difference in our case is that we are Black. Unfortunately, the darker your skin the less you get. So we will get nothing, even though we probably received the worst treatment from whites asside from Native Americans. I recently read Tony Brown's book "Black Lies White Lies" and it gave me a whole new perspective on where I should be focussing my energy and frustration. We as Blacks can't sit around and wait for the man to give us anything. The last time he gave us anything was a whip, raped our women, destroyed our culture, and for the most part denied any wrong doings. We need to unite the upper, middle, and lower classes in the Black community and become an economic power house. Our only true reporation is to beat the white man at his own game. If we don't support our own buisness or each other for that matter the white man has won not only the battle but the war. We have been conquered and divided and some of our brothers and sisters don't even know this and don't care. At the present course we are heading here in America I don't believe Blacks and Whites will ever live together harmoniously. Of course we will always have hate groups, but the general population is spread so far apart I just don't see it unless some radical changes happen. Until then, lets get together my brothers and sisters and take care of our plight and do our own thing. I also feel each one should teach one. Let take back our streets, children, and our families. Only then can our ancestors look down on us and see that their struggles and atrocities were not in vain. Never forget where you came from or for that matter what our people have been through. That is our motivation and if we truly achieve what we say we want, then that will be our reporation.


Name: Erica!
Email: thomas2@potomac.net
Response: If anything, it's good that we're even acknowledging that slavery existed in this country! From elem. to high school (I graduated in '90), slavery was mentioned in a few paragraphs. I even remember being excited a/b going to Berkeley PLANTATION and James PLANTATION and hearing the tour guides call the slave quarters the "servants' quarter" until I got a little older and realized what it was all a/b. So much for that. Will this apology do anything for racism? I doubt it. You've got right-wingers saying that we fought the Civil War to end slavery and passed the Civil War amendments (13 -15) was the U.S.' apology for slavery. What bunk! And usually propagated by those who romanticize the confederacy. We should say what slavery was: rapes, lynchings, murder, forced labor. Then comes the hard part, if not impossible, for this country. Assuming this to be serious action by the govt (and I'm not), we should admit that racism has benefits, primarily economic benefits and de-construct "whiteness." If we could do that, racism would end tomorrow. Then we'd study reparations and its implementation. Too radical? Then try enforcing the laws already enacted. Fund the EEOC to rid them of the huge backlog. I forgot, Clarence Thomas headed the EEOC at the time that the complaints started piling up, and being the good boy he was, he just stood there watched. The truth is that we all know what it's going to take to stamp out racism, particularly against African-Americans, and this govt and business leaders aren't a/b to do one damn thing. But I love surprises!


Name: CAD
Email: Blkcat411@aol.com
Response: Yes! There should be a 'formal' apology to the slave ancestors as well as the current descendents of those Africans who were enslaved. Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to search deeply within themselves for their 'humanity'. The government owes the apology as this heinous practice was sanctioned by the government. The same government entity sanctioned and continues to sanction 'white supremacy' and so that 'apology' should also be extended to enforcing laws which will create and facilitate a climate of fairness and equity. For those of you 'sick' enough to say 'get over it', to you I would say do yourself and the world a favor and take off your rose colored glasses! Do you understand that Africans and their descendents were used as capital with which this country and the other european powers used to create the wealth which was in turn handed down to their descendents! This gave whites the priviledges and the economic, social and educational edge that they continue to enjoy in present times. If the Germans who did not participate in the jewish holocoust had to compensate the survivors of that evil and the U.S. govt. had to compensate the Native Americans and the Japanese, someone please explain to me the logic in saying that African Americans don't rate the same considerations. What makes our case so different? P.S. I further resent anyone regardless of their ethnicity telling me and other African Americans who still feel the psychological and sometimes physical pain at the atrocities suffered by our enslaved ancestors to 'just get over it', it is part of the African heritage to honor and pay homage to your ancestors and if you 'get over it' people don't feel any connection with those who have passed on to the next level of existance, that is your sorry problem, but just because you have no spirituality, don't you dare insult someone else's, I would tell you where you could go, but then again, you don't have a soul to burn there in the first place! For people like me with a strong connection to their ancestors, slavery was only yesterday and it's ill effects are in place today!


Name: Sonlight
Email: mmcdev@erols.com
Response: It will not, period. No justice, just us.


Name: Fal Diabate
Email: fal_diabate@ccm.ut.intel.com
Response: A congressional or presidential apology is a good gesture but the truth of the matter is that it will not improve the condition of living of people of African descent in this country, nor will it improve race relations in the countries. Regardless of what either branch of the government does, people who don't want race relations improved in the countries will always hold to their belief. Not the government, nor you me or an apology can change the views some Whites have of Blacks (or vice-versa). This would be a political and meaningless gesture. The Africans and their descents who experienced the brutal acts of slavery are now dead. So why apology now? And apology to who? The deads ? What congress and the government as a whole can do to improve race relations is to first live by example, educate people against racism and discrimination, and help pass legislation that will help African-American better themselves. As far as "reparations" for slavery is concerned, you can't put a price tag to the brutality of slavery? The question I have for the proponent of reparation is this: Would slavery and its consequences be OK if the government gives $ 1 Millions to every African American? Let's think about it.


Name: David Smith
Email: gmarion@saluda.tds.net
Response: I do not think that the goverment should apologize for slavery and in my view I would say that race relations are pretty good. So what im trying to say is that slavery was in the past so GET OVER IT!!


Name: Wayne
Email:
Response: In no way will it change things between Black and White. They will always be some Whites, that will try to keep Blacks, on the bottem rail.


Name: B O P (Brooklyn)
Email: supa_ronn@hotmail.com
Response: A presidential and/or congresssional apology to all Afrikan Americans for the suffering of their ancestors in America means absolutely nothing without reparations!!! To simply apologize would mean absolutely nothing!!! A true apology must include reparations. Anything less would be meaningless and would indicate an insincere gesture on white America's part. How much and to whom??? I don't have the answers. Maybe Clinton's race panel should forget about its stated goal and work instead on devising a complete reparations package to be implemented immediately. REPARATIONS NOW!!!


Name: Solomon Landers
Email: Numberup@worldnet.att.net
Response: I don't think that just an apology will improve race relations. The apology would be a government action; it would not in itself affect the hearts of other Americans. Yet on the other hand, the government should apologize for its official action of legalizing, legislating, and sustaining this horrendous holocaust of black humanity. It is but a small beginning step on a journey of more than a billion more steps to take responsibility for its perfidy and to denounce offically the high crime of slavery. Reparations would be fine, but don't hold your breath; this is a capitalist country. Capitalists don't get rich by giving money away! And somethng more must be done to create a better climate for race relations. Maybe the proposed commission to "talk about it" is a way to confront, cleanse, and heal-- if properly constituted and implemented. The hearts of a whole nation must be changed. That's a tall order I am not sure anyone can fill. But we must keep trying.


Name: quadrivium
Email: quadrivium@hotmail.com
Response: I'm a firm believer in that "MONEY' keeps you well. I've witnessed certified crazies suddenly wake-up and show signs of normalcy when given money. I'm afraid without that 40 acre's and my mule the "Apology" will ring hollow and insincere. They OWE US a hell of lot more than a mere apology, those unspeakable act perputrated on our ancestors cannot begin to be repaid even if everyone of the descendants recieved a million dollars apiece it wouldn.t be enough for hundreds of years of FREE labor stripping of families, culture and language and untold maiming killings rapes. If Congress insist on apolygizing, find but DEMAND reparaions as a sign of their true sincerity. Then we would really be getting somewhere.


Name: J. Whitherspoon
Email:
Response: It should never be forgotten that slavery was not a one race transaction. American blacks cannot expect an apology from our government until Africans apologize for their equality in guilt. When will you people realize that you were SOLD into slavery by your own people. You sold each other out. But, the whole thing is academic. No one is left or surviving that bought or sold slaves. They are the only ones permitted to apologize. I'll be damned before my government apologizes to you people. Especially since my family arrived well after slavery started. I am as blameless as a lamb. But, if apologies were deemed to be in order by the majority, it must be coupled with the people of Africa also aplogizing for actually having SOLD you people into slavery.